Financial Crime World

Tajikistan’s Authorities Brace Up for Financial Crimes: Awareness Raising Session on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism

On 29th March 2022, an awareness-raising webinar took place in Tajikistan, targeting key authorities involved in combating financial crimes. This event, supported by the Council of Europe, aimed to boost the understanding of Tajik officials regarding the Warsaw Convention on Money Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and the Financing of Terrorism.

Participants

The diverse group included representatives from various Tajik ministries and offices:

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • General Prosecutor’s Office
  • Department of Financial Monitoring of the National Bank
  • Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • State Committee for Investments and State Property Management

Objectives and Advantages of the Warsaw Convention

During the webinar, participants gained insights into:

  • The role of international good practices in the implementation of Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms.
  • Procedures for non-member states to join the Council of Europe Conventions and related monitoring mechanisms.
  • Illustrative country examples from Central Asia regarding the accession process.
  • An in-depth examination of Tajikistan’s national framework pertaining to anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing systems.

Key Discussions

Some of the key topics discussed were:

  1. The role of international good practices in the implementation of Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms.
  2. Crucial steps and procedures for non-member states to join the Council of Europe Conventions and related monitoring mechanisms.
  3. Country examples from Central Asia regarding the accession process.
  4. Analysis of Tajikistan’s domestic framework against anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing.

Outcome and Future Assistance

The session laid the groundwork for further assistance to Tajikistan’s authorities in strengthening their national anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and counter-financing systems. It also aims to cultivate a more robust business integrity and compliance culture in the private sector.

Collaborative Efforts

Organized within the framework of the “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” action under the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, this EU-Council of Europe collaboration intends to bolster capabilities to combat economic crimes in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.